How to Install 16-Inch Pavers

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A paved patio is a physically challenging job but rewards the do-it-yourselfer with an attractive, low maintenance and long-lasting outdoor space. Many 16-inch pavers are plain squares but some are manufactured with interlocking tabs for easier installation and added stability. The most important part of this project is accurately measuring a square layout and providing a firm, solid foundation.

Prepare the Foundation

1

Measure out the plot for your pavers, remembering that the length and width must be in multiples of 16 inches. Mark the corners. Check to ensure the area is square, measuring diagonally and adjusting if needed. Hammer wooden stakes into the ground at the corners and run twine from stake to stake, creating your plot.

2

Measure the thickness of your pavers, add 1 inch for sand and add 4 to 6 inches for gravel. Excavate the area with a shovel to the total depth calculated.

3

Lay landscape fabric into the plot. Overlap the edges with 6 inches of material.

4

Pour a 4-inch layer of gravel on the fabric and smooth with a garden rake. Place a carpenter's level over the gravel in various areas to ensure the gravel base settles into an even, level layer.

5

Water the gravel base lightly with a garden hose and sprayer. Tamp the base with a hand tamper.

6

Cut several 1-inch PVC pipes the length of your plot and place them on the gravel, parallel with each other approximately 3 feet apart.

7

Dump sand onto the gravel up to, but not completely covering the PVC pipes. Place a long 2-by-4 board over the pipes and drag it down to screed over the pipes, smoothing the sand to create a level, 1-inch base. Remove the pipes and fill the cavities with sand. Lightly tamp the sand, taking care not to disturb the smooth, level surface. Mist the sand lightly with water.

Install the Pavers

1

Install plastic retaining edging around the plot with a hammer and spikes.

2

Place the first paver in one of the corners. Add another paver to the right and left and two more toward the center of the plot. If the pavers interlock, place them together accordingly. Place the pavers up against each other with less than a one-eighth-inch gap between them. Lightly tap the pavers with a rubber mallet to press them into the sand base.

3

Check for level, using a carpenter's level over the pavers. If a paver sits too low, remove it and add additional sand. If a paver sits too high, scoop out some of the underlying sand. Tap the pavers with the rubber mallet and check for level again.

4

Continue installing the pavers in a triangular pattern, one to the right and one to the left of the corner paver and two or more pavers toward the center of the plot. Tap the pavers with the mallet and adjust as necessary. Repeat beginning at each of the four corners.

5

Sprinkle a generous amount of sand onto the pavers when all are installed. Brush the dry sand into the joints with a stiff broom and sweep off excess.

6

Mist the paver surface with a garden hose and allow the sand to settle into the joints. Add more sand and mist again until all the joints are filled with sand.

Things You Will Need

Measuring tape

Wooden stakes

Hammer

Twine

Shovel

Carpenter's level

Hand tamper

Garden rake

Landscape fabric

Gravel

Garden hose and sprayer

1-inch PVC pipes

Plastic retaining edging with spikes

Rubber mallet

Safety goggles (optional)

Circular saw with masonry blade (optional)

Tips

If installing a patio next to a building, create a slight slope away from the building to prevent rainwater from pooling toward the building. Allow a slope of one-quarter-inch per foot from the building to the outer end of the plot.

If necessary, trim pavers to fit irregular or small areas. Clamp the paver to a work bench and cut it with a circular saw using a masonry blade. Wear safety goggles while you cut to prevent shards of stone from injuring your eyes.

Warning

Call your local utility company to have them check for any underground cables or wires before you dig.

About the Author

Rebecca Mecomber, a former radio broadcaster, has been a professional blogger and writer since 2006. Her articles and interviews have appeared in "The Wall Street Journal," Salon.com and several other publications, covering topics such as Federal Trade Commission policy and media regulations, blogging, home improvement and New York travel.